Saturday, April 16, 2005

A lot has been said and written on the Japan Chinarivalry and antagonisms. Spring demonstrations in Chinaoften happen while an agitated masses influenced byChina leadership strikes against the motto (campaign) ofthe moment. Japanese government strongly protested onSaturday a new wave of anti-Japan demonstrations inChina, saying Beijing should have prevented theviolence. Â«Even though information was availablebeforehand to infer that there would be a demonstration,nothing was done to prevent it and we strongly protestto the Chinese government,Â» Japan's Foreign Ministrysaid in a statement.

It denounced the Â«destructive and violent actionsÂ» ofthe protesters and called anew for the Chinesegovernment to prevent a recurrence. Foreign MinisterNobutaka Machimura was asked by reporters if he plannedto cancel a trip to Beijing on Sunday. Â«That option isnot out of the question, but at present we areproceeding as planned,Â» Machimura was quoted as sayingby Akira Chiba, assistant press secretary at theministry. Anti-Japanese protests erupted Saturday in atleast three cities, including a demonstration by 20,000people in Shanghai. Protesters last week damaged theJapanese Embassy in Beijing and Japanese businesses, andattacked three Japanese students. The tensions have beenfueled by lingering Chinese anger over Japan's wartimeaggression and anxieties at Tokyo's new military anddiplomatic ambitions, as well as a territorial dispute.

But most important is to try to analyze the contents ofboth nations demands.

quotes:

"... if we want Japan to change its behavior, we have tospell out what is expected of it. At the same time, Ishould add that these kinds of issues cannot be solvedat a single stroke. What the Koreans and Chinese aredemanding (to the extent that it has anything to do withJapan, which is another story) is not simply a concreteset of actions, but a change in what they perceive to beJapanese attitudes, and that change in attitude cannotbe guaranteed by a single, visible set of actions atpoint X, but has to be manifested by a change inJapanese word and deed at points X, Y, Z and beyond.

And they want that change of attitude both because ofthe very real, human desire to have those you perceivehaving done you wrong to be sorry for what they did - toundergo some form of spiritual penance - but becausethey believe that only when the Japanese people andgovernment recognize that what they did is wrong andillegitimate will the danger that they will revert tothe same pattern of behavior be reduced. That is whypeople who have studied efforts at fosteringreconciliation stress that it is a process, not anevent. One that takes a long time to come to an end.

For the Japanese to be willing to engage in such aprocess they will have to be given some assurance thatapologies, when offered, will be accepted by the Koreansand the Chinese. That there will be some pay off interms of creating a smoother and more healthyrelationship for doing this very painful, politically(and potentially financially) costly thing...

The Japanese feel that they have been trying toapologize for a decade, largely in vain. The old tropethat the Japanese suffer form historical amnesia is,while not quite an "urban myth," vastly exaggerated. ..

... I have not made a systematic study of Japanesetextbooks, but I have found some pretty good researchwhich shows that there is far more open discussion ofJapanese atrocities, especially since the 1970s, thanthe Iris Chang line of argument claims. As a result, theJapanese are suffering from a sort of "apology fatigue,"which is being exploited by those in Japan who are deadset opposed to making any sort of apology for the pastbecause it would be injurious to the development of ahealth sense of Japanese patriotism.

In the past, I had been hopeful that reconciliationcould be achieved at least in the context of theROK-Japan relationship, if not the Sino-Japanese one. Atthe same time, I felt that it would be better if theUnited States did not get involved in mediating suchdisputes. This is an affair that the Asian parties wouldbe better off dealing with on their own.

In addition, I have always felt that the US as well hasa lot of historical baggage (Hiroshima-Nagasaki, theTaft-Katsura agreement, No Gun Ri, General "Howler"Smith and the pacification of the Philippines, etc.) andthat we would not want to encourage making apologies forpast misconduct a generalized principle.

I think that passions are getting to the point, however,where even minor disputes run the risk of getting out ofhand, where a downward spiral in terms of Japan'srelations with its neighbors is now becomingconceivable, and that in the process US relations withall its Asian partners could be damaged...

... Is there anything that the US can do on this issue?Or should we just stand on the sidelines and watch thissad, sad game of mutual recrimination play itself out,whatever the consequence?"

Concerning Japan's history, Chinese textbooks focus onpre WW2 events and rarely mention contemporary Japan.Teachers also mention they do not have time to teachcontemporary Japan society to their students. One has tobear this in mind when one textbook among othersmentions China, in a way the Chinese leadership does notreally enjoy the content...

Quotes :

A nationalist textbook newly approved by the Tokyogovernment is driving the deepest wedge in Japan-Chinarelations in decades, but few of the country's studentshave ever read it.

Though given away for free, the book titled "New HistoryTextbook" is used by only 18 of 11,102 junior highschools in Japan, reflecting many teachers' concernsover its content. It has been denounced by the leadingteachers' union, and is well to the right wing ofmainstream public opinion.

Outside of Japan's classrooms, however, the textbook isanything but obscure.

Since it was first approved by a government screeningpanel four years ago, the textbook has been singled outby Japan's neighbors as evidence the country is tryingto whitewash its militarist past.

And its unrepentant tone and omission of Japan's wartimeatrocities â€” including germ warfare and the forcing oftens if not hundreds of thousands of women intoprostitution â€” have outraged many Japanese educators andliberals.

It is now at the center of yet another regional rift.

The approval of the book's newest edition this monthfueled street protests in several Chinese cities,threats of a boycott of Japanese products and violenceagainst at least two Japanese students, plungingrelations between the two Asian giants to their lowestlevel in years.

Even North Korea has piped up, saying the EducationMinistry's approval of the text demonstrates thenation's leaders are "political dwarfs."

The book's publishers claim surprise at the outcry.

"We only hope more schools choose our book," saidFusosha spokeswoman Yoko Ishimaru, acknowledging thetextbook could have been more popular.

Only 10 public and eight private junior high schools usethe textbook, meaning it reaches just 0.1 percent of the1.2 million seventh graders.

Teachers' concerns over the content have limited use ofthe textbook, which covers all of Japan's history. Thecurrent edition has 236 pages, only about 20 of whichdeal with the 1920-1945 period, the height of Japaneseexpansionism.

But those 20 pages are highly inflammatory, withpassages defending Japan's militarism as an attempt toliberate Asia from western colonialism and claiming thatresource-poor Japan was pushed into a corner and usedaggression as a last resort. Similar logic was used byJapan's wartime leaders.

For example, he said, none of the textbooks approvedthis month mentions Japan's official role inestablishing front-line brothels during the war.Historians say as many as 200,000 women from Korea,China, the Philippines, Taiwan and the Netherlands wereforced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers.

Japan's military also seized up to 800,000 men fromChina, Korea and other Asian countries in the early1900s and shipped them to Japan to work in coal minesand ports under brutal conditions.

Tokyo has acknowledged its wartime offenses, but refusesto compensate victims directly or apologize, saying allgovernment-level compensation was settled by postwartreaties.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has alsoangered many Chinese and Koreans by repeatedly payinghis respects at a Shinto shrine honoring Japan's wardead, including several war criminals.

Officials say the criticism of its textbook screeningprocess â€” and decision to approve the book in question â€”is unfair.

They claim screening is intended only to ensure thattextbooks do not contain factual errors or expressinterpretations of history that go beyond what mostscholars would consider defensible. It does not mean thegovernment agrees with everything on every page, theysay.

Critics, however, argue the process bolsters thegovernment's own right-leaning bias.

"They are approved because their contents reflect theviews of the government and conservative ruling partymembers," said Yoshifumi Tawara, who heads Children andTextbooks Japan Network 21, a liberal activist group. AP

How much plutonium (Pu) does Japan exactly own? How areJapan rockets doing? Is the Ballistic missile enough intomorrow's world? What if Japan becomes nuclear?

Here is an expert view on the last question :

"Japan sees little reason to develop nuclear weapons. Iwould note, however, that it is possible to construct anequally compelling logical argument that Japan shoulddevelop a strategic deterrent... From a US perspective,the current situation has some advantages. The Japaneseare looking to us more than ever for support, and arewilling to do more than ever in response. At the sametime, there are some worrying trends - especially inconnection with the increasingly emotional disputes overhistory, the contested territories around Japan - theNorthern territories/Kurile islands, Takeshima/Tokdo andSenakaku/Diaoyutai, as well as the abductees. There maybe some risk that for the first time in the history ofthe MST system that it is the United States that facesthe threat of entanglement through its strategicrelationship with Japan, and not the other way around.At the same time, the potential costs of disappointingJapan on these issues may also be going up. How the USshould respond to these trends - whether it shouldignore them and reap the benefits of Japanese isolation,or whether it should try - if perhaps only indirectly -to mediate some of these disputes - is an issue..."Thomas Berger Boston University (NBR forum extract)

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Japan and China are currently making arrangements tohold talks between their foreign ministers in Beijing onApril 17...

Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura is expected to usethe opportunity to urge his Chinese counterpart, LiZhaoxing, to take steps to prevent such vandalism.

Thousands of Chinese protesters marched in Beijing,accusing Tokyo of distorting its wartime past and urginga boycott of Japanese products. Some participantshurled rocks, eggs and plastic bottles at the embassyand the ambassador's residence as well as restaurantsand a bank.

No official figures were announced, but estimates of thenumber of anti-Japanese protesters in the demonstrationranged from 10,000 to 20,000. It is believed to be thefirst major anti-Japanese demonstration in Beijing sincethe two countries normalized relations in 1972.

About 20 window panes were broken at the embassy,according to a Japanese Embassy official. Tensionsbetween the two countries have flared in recent weeksover claims new Japanese textbooks fail to accuratelyreport atrocities committed during the country'soccupation of China before and during World War II, mostnotably the Nanjing massacre in 1937 in which hundredsof thousands of civilians died. The textbook alsostates Japan owns another set of islands it callsSenkaku -- a claim which the Chinese dispute. Chinacalls the islands the Diaoyu.

When asked if China would apologize to Japan ForeignMinistry spokesman Qin Gang said the demonstration ``wasa completely spontaneous'' reaction by the Chinesepeople. Qin also said China had deployed police toensure the safety of employees working in the Japaneseembassy and in China.

China opposes Japan's bid for a permanent seat on theUnited Nation's Security Council and continues tocriticize annual visits by Japanese prime ministers to ashrine honoring war criminals among the nation's honoredheroes.

Here we are.

Japan and China ministers are to meet April 17th... ?

History is (not) to repeat itself. Still, April 17 isnot a very good memory for China.

Apr. 17, 1895, ending the First Sino-Japanese War,Shimonoseki Treaty was negotiated and signed by ItoHirobumi for Japan and Li Hung-chang for China.

Harsh terms were imposed on a badly defeated China. Thetreaty provided for the end of Chinese suzerainty overKorea, giving Korea independence, and for the cession toJapan of Taiwan, the Pescadores islands, and Port Arthurand the Liaodong peninsula. Japan also imposed a largeindemnity and forced China to open five new treatyports.

A week after the treaty was signed, however, Russia,France, and Germany togetherâ€”in the so-called TripleInterventionâ€”demanded that Japan renounce claims to PortArthur and the Liaodong peninsula. Japan reluctantlyagreed (Nov., 1895), but China was forced to pay anadditional indemnity.

Quotes : Signed at Shimonoseki 17 April 1895 the"Peace" treaty entered into Force 8 May 1895 by theexchange of the instruments of ratification at Chefooafter war :

"His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and His Majesty theEmperor of China, desiring to restore the blessings ofpeace to their countries and subjects and to remove allcause for future complications, have named as theirPlenipotentiaries for the purpose of concluding a Treatyof Peace, that is to say:

His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Count ITO Hirobumi,Junii, Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Paullownia,Minister President of State; and Viscount MUTSUMunemitsu, Junii, First Class of the Imperial Order ofthe Sacred Treasure, Minister of State for ForeignAffairs.

And His Majesty the Emperor of China, LI Hung-chang,Senior Tutor to the Heir Apparent, Senior GrandSecretary of State, Minister Superintendent of Trade forthe Northern Ports of China, Viceroy of the province ofChili, and Earl of the First Rank; and LI Ching-fong,Ex-Minister of the Diplomatic Service, of the SecondOfficial Rank:

Who, after having exchanged their full powers, whichwere found to be in good and proper form, have agreed tothe following Articles:â€”

Article 1

China recognises definitively the full and completeindependence and autonomy of Korea, and, in consequence,the payment of tribute and the performance of ceremoniesand formalities by Korea to China, in derogation of suchindependence and autonomy, shall wholly cease for thefuture.

Article 2

China cedes to Japan in perpetuity and full sovereigntythe following territories, together with allfortifications, arsenals, and public property thereon:â€”

(a) The southern portion of the province of FÃªngtienwithin the following boundaries [1]:

The line of demarcation begins at the mouth of the RiverYalu and ascends that stream to the mouth of the RiverAn-ping, from thence the line runs to FÃªng-huang, fromthence to Hai-cheng, from thence to Ying-kow, forming aline which describes the southern portion of theterritory. The places above named are included in theceded territory. When the line reaches the River Liaoat Ying-kow, it follows the course of the stream to itsmouth, where it terminates. The mid-channel of theRiver Liao shall be taken as the line of demarcation.

This cession also includes all islands appertaining orbelonging to the province of FÃªngtien situated in theeastern portion of the Bay of Liao-tung and the northernportion of the Yellow Sea.

(b) The island of Formosa, together with all islandsappertaining or belonging to the said island of Formosa.

(c) The Pescadores Group, that is to say, all islandslying between the 119th and 120th degrees of longitudeeast of Greenwich and the 23rd and 24th degrees of northlatitude.

Article 3 [2]

The alignment of the frontiers described in thepreceding Article, and shown on the annexed map, shallbe subject to verification and demarcation on the spotby a Joint Commission of Delimitation, consisting of twoor more Japanese and two or more Chinese delegates, tobe appointed immediately after the exchange of theratifications of this Act. In case the boundaries laiddown in this Act are found to be defective at any point,either on account of topography or in consideration ofgood administration, it shall also be the duty of theDelimitation Commission to rectify the same. TheDelimitation Commission will enter upon its duties assoon as possible, and will bring its labours to aconclusion within the period of one year afterappointment. The alignments laid down in this Actshall, however, be maintained until the rectificationsof the Delimitation Commission, if any are made, shallhave received the approval of the Governments of Japanand China.

Article 4

China agrees to pay to Japan as a war indemnity the sumof 200,000,000 Kuping taels; the said sum to be paid ineight installments. The first installment of 50,000,000taels to be paid within six months, and the secondinstallment of 50,000,000 to be paid within twelvemonths, after the exchange of the ratifications of thisAct. The remaining sum to be paid in six equalinstallments as follows: the first of such equal annualinstallments to be paid within two years, the secondwithin three years, the third within four years, thefourth within five years, the fifth within six years,and the the sixth within seven years, after the exchangeof the ratifications of this Act. Interest at the rateof 5 per centum per annum shall begin to run on allunpaid portions of the said indemnity from the date thefirst installment falls due. China shall, however, havethe right to pay by anticipation at any time any or allof the said installments. In case the whole amount ofthe said indemnity is paid within three years after theexchange of the ratifications of the present Act allinterest shall be waived, and the interest for two yearsand a half or for any less period, if any already paid,shall be included as part of the principal amount of theindemnity.

Article 5

The inhabitants of the territories ceded to Japan whowish to take up their residence outside the cededdistricts shall be at liberty to sell their realproperty and retire. For this purpose a period of twoyears from the date of the exchange of ratifications ofthe present Act shall be granted. At the expiration ofthat period those of the inhabitants who shall not haveleft such territories shall, at the option of Japan, bedeemed to be Japanese subjects. Each of the twoGovernments shall, immediately upon the exchange of theratifications of the present Act, send one or moreCommissioners to Formosa to effect a final transfer ofthat province, and within the space of two months afterthe exchange of the ratifications of this Act suchtransfer shall be completed.

Article 6

All Treaties between Japan and China having come to anend as a consequence of war, China engages, immediatelyupon the exchange of the ratifications of this Act, toappoint Plenipotentiaries to conclude with the JapanesePlenipotentiaries, a Treaty of Commerce and Navigationand a Convention to regulate Frontier Intercourse andTrade. The Treaties, Conventions, and Regulations nowsubsisting between China and the European Powers shallserve as a basis for the said Treaty and Conventionbetween Japan and China. From the date of the exchangeof ratifications of this Act until the said Treaty andConvention are brought into actual operation, theJapanese Governments, its officials, commerce,navigation, frontier intercourse and trade, industries,ships, and subjects, shall in every respect be accordedby China most favoured nation treatment.

China makes, in addition, the following concessions, totake effect six months after the date of the presentAct:â€”

First.â€”The following cities, towns, and ports, inaddition to those already opened, shall be opened to thetrade, residence, industries, and manufactures ofJapanese subjects, under the same conditions and withthe same privileges and facilities as exist at thepresent open cities, towns, and ports of China: 1.Shashih, in the province of Hupeh. 2. Chungking, inthe province of Szechwan. 3. Suchow, in the provinceof Kiangsu. 4. Hangchow, in the province of Chekiang.

The Japanese Government shall have the right to stationconsuls at any or all of the above named places.

Second.â€”Steam navigation for vessels under the Japaneseflag, for the conveyance of passengers and cargo, shallbe extended to the following places: 1. On the UpperYangtze River, from Ichang to Chungking. 2. On theWoosung River and the Canal, from Shanghai to Suchow andHangchow.

The rules and regulations that now govern the navigationof the inland waters of China by Foreign vessels shall,so far as applicable, be enforced, in respect to theabove named routes, until new rules and regulations areconjointly agreed to.

Third.â€”Japanese subjects purchasing goods or produce inthe interior of China, or transporting importedmerchandise into the interior of China, shall have theright temporarily to rent or hire warehouses for thestorage of the articles so purchased or transportedwithout the payment of any taxes or extractionswhatever.

Fourth.â€”Japanese subjects shall be free to engage in allkinds of manufacturing industries in all the opencities, towns, and ports of China, and shall be atliberty to import into China all kinds of machinery,paying only the stipulated import duties thereon.

All articles manufactured by Japanese subjects in Chinashall, in respect of inland transit and internal taxes,duties, charges, and exactions of all kinds, and also inrespect of warehousing and storage facilities in theinterior of China, stand upon the same footing and enjoythe same privileges and exemptions as merchandiseimported by Japanese subjects into China.

In the event additional rules and regulations arenecessary in connexion with these concessions, theyshall be embodied in the Treaty of Commerce andNavigation provided for by this Article.

Article 7

Subject to the provisions of the next succeedingArticle, the evacuation of China by the armies of Japanshall be completely effected within three months afterthe exchange of the ratificatioins of the present Act.

Article 8

As a guarantee of the faithful performance of thestipulations of this Act, China consents to thetemporary occupation by the military forces of Japan ofWeihaiwei, in the province of Shantung. [3] Uponpayment of the first two installments of the warindemnity herein stipulated for and the exchange of theratifications of the Treaty of Commerce and navigation,the said place shall be evacuated by the Japaneseforces, provided the Chinese Government consents topledge, under suitable and sufficient arrangements, theCustoms revenue of China as security for the payment ofthe principal and interest of the remaining installmentsof the said indemnity. In the event that no sucharrangements are concluded, such evacuation shall onlytake place upon the payment of the final installment ofsaid indemnity. It is, however, expressly understoodthat no such evacuation shall take place until after theexchange of the ratifications of the Treaty of Commerceand Navigation.

Article 9

Immediately upon the exchange of the ratifications ofthis Act, all prisoners of war then held shall berestored, and China undertakes not to ill-treat orpunish prisoners of war so restored to her by Japan.China also engages to at once release all Japanesesubjects accused of being military spies or charged withany other military offenses. China further engages notto punish in any manner, nor to allow to be punished,those Chinese subjects who have in any manner beencompromised in their relations with the Japanese armyduring the war.

Article 10

All offensive military operations shall cease upon theexchange of the ratifications of this Act.

Article 11

The present Act shall be ratified by their Majesties theEmperor of Japan and the Emperor of China, and theratifications shall be exchanged at Chefoo on the 8thday of the 5th month of the 28th year of MEIJI,corresponding to the 14th day of the 4th month of the21st year of KUANG HSÃœ. In witness whereof therespective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same andaffixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done inShimonoseki, in duplicate, this 17th day of the fourthmonth of the 28th year of MEIJI, corresponding to the23rd day of the 3rd month of the 21st year of KUANG HSÃœ.

Count ITO HIROBUMI, [L.S.] Junii, Grand Cross of theImperial Order of Paullownia Minister President of StatePlenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

Viscount MUTSU MUNEMITSU, [L.S.] Junii, First Class ofthe Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure Minister ofState for Foreign Affairs Plenipotentiary of His Majestythe Emperor of Japan

LI HUNG-CHANG, [L.S.] Plenipotentiary of His Majesty theEmperor of China Senior Tutor to the Heir ApparentSenior Grand Secretary of State Minister Superintendentof Trade for the Northern Ports of China Viceroy of theprovince of Chili Earl of the First Rank

LI CHING-FONG Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperorof China Ex-Minister of the Diplomatic Service, of theSecond Official Rank.

end of quotes"

annex :

Portrait of Ito Hirobumi

1841â€“1909, Japanese statesman, the outstanding figure inthe modernization of Japan. As a young Choshu samurai,he was a xenophobe. In 1863 he visited Europe, studiedscience in England, and became convinced of thenecessity of adopting Western ways. After the Meijirestoration, Ito served in the ministries of foreignaffairs, finance, and industry. He was a member of themission sent abroad (1871) under Prince Iwakura torevise the unequal treaties with the Western powers andstudy Western technology. In 1873, Ito became a memberof the ruling council and worked to modernize Japan andsolidify the power of the oligarchs. By 1881 he forcedShigenobu Okuma to resign and thus became the foremostpolitical power in Japan.

In 1882 he headed the mission sent abroad to studyforeign governments. Returning, he established acabinet and civil service (1885) and a privy council(1888), which he headed. He supervised (1883â€“89) thedrafting of the constitution of 1889 and was intimateadviser to the emperor. In 1885 he negotiated theLi-Ito Convention, which postponed war with China overKorea. As prime minister (1892â€“96) he supported theSino-Japanese War and negotiated the Treaty ofShimonoseki. After the war he became a supporter ofparty government, opposing Prince Yamagata. He was thefirst president of the Seiyukai party. Again primeminister (1898, 1900â€“1901), he tried to negotiate apeaceful settlement with Russia, but, failing, wasforced to increase military appropriations.

Have not heard much about it, ex KCIA spin-doctorsor simple house cleaners?

Quotes :

Former Spy Chief Murdered at Chicken Farm in France

A former South Korean intelligence agency chief whodisappeared in 1979 was killed at a chicken farm in thesuburbs of Paris by a team of South Korean agents, aweekly news magazine here reported Monday.

Sisa Journal quoted a former agent who allegedly led theteam at the time as saying that his team abducted KimHyung-wook, who was then chief of the Korea CentralIntelligence Agency (KCIA), at a restaurant near acasino in downtown Paris on Oct. 7, 1979.

``We were waiting at the entrance of the restaurant at atime when Kim was supposed to meet a South Koreanactress and succeeded in kidnapping him by disguisingourselves as a guide sent by the actress,'' the man,identified only by his family name Lee, told themagazine.

``We then anesthetized him inside a Cadillac and pushedhis body into a grinder at a chicken farm located 4kilometers northwest of Paris at about 11 p.m., to feedchickens.''

Lee said he killed Kim in a team with an agent calledKwak, who was sent to Israel's Mossad intelligenceagency and trained to be a special assassin.

The former spy chief's purpose of the visit to Paris wasto meet the actress, and the team prepared for theassassination for one year, he added.

The actress mentioned by the agent, however, deniedinvolvement in the case, saying that the person Kim wassupposed to meet that day was not her, the magazinesaid.

Kim served as an intelligence chief for six years,beginning in 1969, under the former Park Chung-heeadministration. After Kim's dismissal, he became anoutspoken critic of the dictator while living in exilein the United States.

The KCIA was later replaced by the National IntelligenceService.

Kim went missing while traveling in Paris, only weeksbefore the assassination of former President Park onOct. 26, 1979, by Kim's replacement.

There has been mounting suspicions that the spy agencywas behind Kim's disappearance.

The agency has already formed an investigation team toshed light on the disappearance, along with a number ofother cases in its murky past. They include the 1973kidnapping of former President Kim Dae-jung and the 1987bombing of a Korean Air passenger jet.

"Despite recent estimates that the cost of developing themore than $200 billion Joint Strike Fighter is creepingupward, Lockheed's chief executive said Friday hebelieves the defense contractor can deliver the planefor the Air Force, Navy and Marines on budget.

Robert Stevens said the cost of the program would be"thoroughly evaluated" by the Pentagon...

... Lockheed is the lead contractor on the Joint StrikeFighter, which at a possible $245 billion over itslifetime would be the biggest defense contract everawarded. The planes would be made for the Air Force,Navy and Marines and some foreign militaries.

Several recent reports have questioned whether that costwill grow more. The Government Accountablity Officerecently said development costs grew $10 billion to $45billion last year because of weight and other technicalproblems. The Financial Times reported Friday that aninternal Pentagon analysis group put the cost increaseat $5 billion.

Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexingtongroup, said the internal Pentagon review was based onhistorical data from similar weapons programs, meaningit might be overly pessimistic. He said Lockheed'srecord with the F-16, which it delivered on time and onbudget, means it may do the same with the Joint StrikeFighter...

... Lockheed estimates for the Joint Strike Fighter andthe Pentagon review will be evaluated at a May 5 meetingof the Defense Acquisition Board.

The rising cost projections come as other major Lockheedprograms have been slated for cuts in President Bush's2006 budget.

The F/A-22 jet, originally planned for 750 planes whenit was conceived, would be scaled back to just 179 jets.

Production of the C-130J transport plane would bestopped.

Stevens warned that if a smaller number of F/A-22s aremade, the price tag per jet will increase substantiallybecause of the money already invested in the program.The GAO estimates each plane will cost $345 million if178 are made, compared to a 1991 per plane price tag of$149 million when about 648 were proposed.

"There are pressures that result from fewer airplanes,"Stevens said...

... The nation's largest defense contractor, Lockheedposted sales of $35.5 billion last year, mostly ongovernment contracts. It also provides a wide range ofother government services, from satellites for NASA tomail-sorting equipment for the Postal Service.

The report said the company plans to develop a jetcapable of carrying 70-90 passengers and aims to conductits maiden flight in fiscal 2008.

Mitsubishi notified the Ministry of Economy, Trade andIndustry on Monday of its plan to start developingconceptual designs.

The company is a party to a five-year project launchedin fiscal 2003 by the government and the private sectorto co-develop a passenger jet. Japan has developed aturboprop passenger plane, the YS-11, but not apassenger jet.

Monday, April 11, 2005

Isn't' it bizarre to see that demonstrators can strikewherever they want in such country as China? Is the oldCCP guard still angry at Hu and Wen and infuriated atJapan UNSC attempt. Are these strikes "politicalactivities" pre-organized. Police closed to the crowds.Anyone arrested ? Are Universities there underlecturing by Party promising activists? Japanese mediacoverage was quite a surprise, too poor.

This piece from the CSM is quite interesting on thecontrary:

Quotes :

"Take a big knife and chop off head of Japanese devil."

Not since 1985, when the then Japanese prime ministervisited the Yasukuni Shrine, has Beijing allowed such ademonstration.

While described as a spontaneous rally, the organizednature of the Saturday protest seemed apparent to someobservers. Areas for press, protesters, and riot policewere taped off. Movement was carefully organized:crowds were sent past the Japanese Embassy, then tobuses to usher them out. One policeman told anapproaching reporter that a detour was necessary, since"political activity" had been scheduled.

A seat for Japan on the Security Council would alterChina's current status as the only Asian member of thecouncil. While Beijing has supported multilateralism inmuch of the world, it has been reluctant to do so inAsia, its closest sphere of influence.

Here, most of the relationships between neighboringstates and Beijing are bilateral.

Some Western diplomats say that while China has shownits unpredictability, Tokyo continues to give itsneighbors a target. "Japan has a problem with itsneighbors and its neighbors all say so," notes a seniorWestern diplomat. "Yet they are solid allies ofWashington. We still don't know which way China isgoing."

One protester said he was embarrassed that his friendswere throwing bottles at the Embassy.

"I was at the American embassy in 1999 [when it wasattacked after the accidental bombing of the Chineseembassy in Belgrade] and I asked my friends not to throwthings at that time, too."